i feel like a sassy lady in this sophisticated black and ivory novelty print!

DRESS: ModCloth | SHOES: Seychelles via ModCloth | EYEWEAR: SEE Eyewear | HANDBAG: All Typed Up by Kate Spade | NECKLACE: Vintage Pearl Collar | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

in fact, i feel pretty bad-ass…

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

okay, and maybe a little silly too!

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

okay, maybe a lot silly…

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

feeling cool & confident wearing duckworth in marine slate

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

clearly ecstatic about percey in striped sassafras

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

so satisfied with my first eye-opening pair of prescription sunglasses: tenley in violet magnolia*

*I hear these are going to be discontinued soon.  Get ‘em before they’re gone!

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

So, what do you think of my new specs!?

{ what i wore }

Thanks to Gretchen Fenston, Kate Spade, ModCloth, and the vintage gods, I looked presentable at the Independent Fashion Bloggers Conference last week.  I’m tickled that some of my fellow bloggers shared my style with their followers!

day 1: i ain’t nothing but a houndstooth on my way to the conference

HAT: Gretchen Fenston | COAT: Vintage from jinglekell on eBay | BAG: Kate Spade | TIGHTS: Free People | SHOES: Mojo Moxy | EYEWEAR: SEE | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

day 1: mustard was the color of the day complete with gretchen fenston bonnet

HAT: Gretchen Fenston | DRESS: Kate Spade | BAG: Kate Spade | TIGHTS: Free People | SHOES: Mojo Moxy | CARDIGAN: Knit via Daffy’s | EYEWEAR: SEE | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

day 2: my first modcloth year of dresses pick was a winner on day two of the pro blogger event

HAT: Gretchen Fenston | DRESS: Stop Staring via ModCloth | SHOES: Pink Studio | EYEWEAR: Moscot Vildas | NECKLACE: Vintage, a gift from Courtney Loren Brown | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

day 2: dave’s vintage minolta autocord charmed many a fashionista & photog in attendance

HAT: Gretchen Fenston | DRESS: Stop Staring via ModCloth | BAG: Kate Spade | EYEWEAR: Moscot Vildas | NECKLACE: Vintage, a gift from Courtney Loren Brown | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

{ what I saw }

Check out some of my fellow attendees sporting styles after my own heart:

lilah ramzi of part nouveau in vintage

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

jasmin rodriguez of vintage vandalism in a trashy diva dress i really want!

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

egyptian-american beauty winnie détwa in asos & forever 21

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

emily kammeyer sporting a hat of her own design

 PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

{ who I met }

In the days leading up to the conference, I couldn’t help but worry I was about to enter the fashion lion’s den.  What I found was a room full of kindred spirits, like Victoria of Haute on the Spot with her zeal for designer bargains, Hester Feming with her love of old treasures, and Alexandra Frumberg with her talent for striking portraiture.  From sociology PhD candidate Jennifer Whitmer’s fascination with the social meaning behind what we wear to MAGNIFECO founder Kate Black’s commitment to lessening the impact of it and from Urban Fieldnotes photo-blogger Brent Luvaas’ appreciation of street style to Lipstick and Highwaters maven Tiffany Nakamura’s knack for embodying it, I was surrounded by engaging, curious, like-minded people, many of whom have become fast friends.

tiffany nakamura and i prove that opposites attract at ifbcon 2013

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

{ what I learned }

Inspiration was the real star of IFBcon.  While all the technical business advice was tremendously valuable, I quickly learned that the only way to really grow as a blogger (and perhaps, as a person) is to make creative, original content the number one priority.

“revel in the freedom of just getting started.”

 -Jake Gallagher of Wax Wane 

from the very first panel on the first year of blogging, the entire IFB conference seemed to be designed with my personal success in mind.

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

“step out of your comfort zone & don’t be afraid to fail.” 

-Geri Hirsch of LEAFtv

lulu frost designer lisa salzer spoke to the importance of surrounding yourself with positive energy and never letting doubt prevent you from doing what you’re meant to.

 PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

“if it doesn’t make you crazy like teenage love, you probably shouldn’t be blogging about it”

- Tina Craig of Bag Snob

And the conversations continued fluidly on other platforms.  For example, Tina Craig of Bag Snob took to twitter after her moment on the IFB stage to encourage us to aspire to be ourselves rather than our idols.

“you can be the poorest person on the planet, but fashion still matters, because it’s your identity.” 

-Neil Blumenthal of WarbyParker

While every speaker had a big impact, Warby Parker founder Neil Blumenthal was my particular favorite.  He reminded us that vulnerability is more engaging than strength, encouraging us to keep our work personal. Warby Parker certainly does! Their quirky, fun, retro chic brand’s recipe for success was inspired by the style of their grandparents’ generation mixed with the work ethic of their parents’ generation. It makes for some really imaginative productivity, like their delightful New York Public Library stunt in 2011. While they know it’s not the number one reason most people buy their specs, Warby’s “do good” work around the globe is a real turn on for me as a consumer. In fact, I was so enthused after IFB; I went home and bought three more pairs of whimsical Warby Parker glasses to keep my current pair company. (Gotta love flex spending!) Stay tuned for future four-eyed pictures and my earnest attempt at creative, original content made just for you.

my new dress goes perfectly with my good ol’ moscot vildas

EYEWEAR: Moscot Vilda | SHOES: Pink Studio | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

this flirty dress has great bounce & movement for a fall/winter garment

EYEWEAR: Moscot Vilda | SHOES: Pink Studio | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

best of all, it goes perfectly with my new “watchful wisdom” card!

CARDIGAN: Knitted Dove via ModCloth | EYEWEAR: Moscot Vilda | SHOES: Pink Studio | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

First of all, this deep sage green and black houndstooth print is the perfect example of a current trend aligning with the palette of my own personal (and decidedly vintage) style. Stop Staring is a self-described “retro-contemporary brand,” which means you’ll find me and Kim Kardashian wearing the label!

This dress is a pear shaped girl’s secret weapon, ladies. This is my second dress from the brand, and both are fabulously flattering, hugging me on top where I run smaller and can get away with a tighter, sexier fit then erasing my lower-body imperfections in a sea of swing skirt. If I can find the right foundation garment, I’d love to try one of Stop Staring’s hip-hugging wiggle dresses, for which they are best known. Think Joan in Mad Men. Meow!

All the elements combined – shape, structure, pattern, and, of course, vintage sensibility – create more than a great dress (that twirls really well btw). This dress simply makes me feel wonderful. From the moment I put it on, I felt poised, professional, elegant, smart, romantic, and – amazingly enough – comfortable! And while my dress didn’t come with a price tag thanks to ModCloth, the buoyancy it gives me is priceless. I’ll definitely be a repeat Stop Staring customer well beyond my dream-come-true year with ModCloth.

If you ask Dave, he’d probably say yes, since he had to photograph my entire collection last night. However, I say you can never have too many glasses. They go on your face, people! Although I used to be a one pair kind of gal, I treasure all the options in my arsenal (and crave more, more, more!). Glasses are your window to the world. And as someone allergic to most costume jewelry metals, they’re often my best and only accessory.

If a hat is the cherry on top, then eyewear is the good first impression. With that logic in mind, perhaps I should have started the blog with this post! Hindsight is 20/20, but clearly my sight is far from it. Without further adieu, let’s start the tour of the spectacular spectacles of StoryGirlSarah…

tortoise classics from moscot keep this zany secretary look safe for work

EYEWEAR: Moscot Vilda  | BLOUSE: Tucker from ModCloth | BROOCH: Vintage from Pin Up Queens, Astoria | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

these sassy cat eye frames from SEE were handmade in italy

(just like my great-grandmother)

EYEWEAR: SEE Eyewear #1413 | DRESS: Emily & Fin from ModCloth | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

do not make my fierce warby parker specs angry

you wouldn’t like it when they’re angry

EYEWEAR:  Warby Parker Sinclair in Burgundy Fade | DRESS: Candice Gwinn Natasha Dress by Trashy Diva | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

getting my girlish fancy on in this vintage black horn & rhinestone pair

EYEWEAR: Vintage from Bibby’s Rocket on Etsy  | BLOUSE: Peachtree City Top from ModCloth | HEADBAND: J.Crew | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

snagged these retro red rounds on our trip to shanghai last year

EYEWEAR: brand unknown | T-SHIRT: That Yarn Cat Tee from ModCloth | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

are these real ray-bans?

(only the lady who sold them to me in shanghai knows for sure)

EYEWEAR: Possibly Ray-Ban | DRESS: Vintage | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

SEE did it again with these modern meets vintage crimson cats made in holland

EYEWEAR: SEE Eyewear | DRESS: Aoyama Itchome via Callalilai | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

matte meets gloss in these onyx frames with cut-out detail handmade in france

(also by SEE)

EYEWEAR: SEE Eyewear #2832 | Trollied Dolly from ModCloth | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

my homage to sigourney weaver in working girl in the same SEE specs

(only pink!)

EYEWEAR: SEE Eyewear #2832 | BLOUSE: Pleasant Tense Top from ModCloth | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

i love how the world looks through my rose colored betsey johnson shades (perhaps because they’re not prescription)

EYEWEAR: Betsey Johnson via TJ Maxx | COAT: Vintage from jinglekell on eBay | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

When you put a lot of care into the way you dress, one pair of glasses just won’t do. Despite my abundant assortment, I still sometimes find my color options lacking when I set out to style myself every morning. And don’t even get me started on the historical accuracy and style consistency questions that gnaw at me every time I put together an outfit!

For starters, I really need a pair of ivory frames for the spring and a green pair to match my eyes. And where’s the most universally liked color, blue? Lately, I have particularly big crushes on Mallory in Blue Marblewood and Tenely prescription sunglasses in Violet Magnolia, both from the wonderfully affordable (and philanthropic) Warby Parker. Then there is my long-time obsession with Stephanie by Morganthal Frederics, the Rolls Royce of luxury specs.

Sigh. A girl can dream.

I have some sassy new hair changes in store for next week, but I hope my grand plans don’t greatly alter how all my favorite frames already work for me. Although, there are worse things I can think of than having an excuse to invest in more glasses.

Like I need an excuse!

Bottom line: When it comes to putting on the polish, eyewear is a girl’s best friend.